title: Improving the blood collection process using the active-phlebotomist phlebotomy system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because the number of patients requiring phlebotomy varies significantly at different times throughout the day, it is difficult to control wait times during peak times. We tried to solve this problem by changing from the conventional fixed-phlebotomist phlebotomy system (CFPPS), in which the phlebotomist waits for patients at a fixed location to the active-phlebotomist phlebotomy system (APPS), in which a phlebotomist goes to patients actively. We compared the productivity of these two systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  After changing the system at our hospital, we measured the waiting time before seeing phlebotomy staff and compared it to a comparable hospital that uses CFPPS. We reviewed the phlebotomy count recorded in the laboratory information system before and after the system change.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the system change, the average waiting time for phlebotomy was 2.34 min (median 1 min) and the waiting time was less than 5 min in all time slots, except 7:00 to 7:30 a.m. The new system significantly decreased the waiting time. In addition, the maximum number of patients seen by a phlebotomist during the peak time was higher in the APPS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The APPS enhanced the productivity of the phlebotomist and reduced waiting time with limited human resources in a Korean hospital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Gyeonggi, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Ryul
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Miyeon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Yong Wha
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hee Bong
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Seon Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: You Kyoung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors